Indemnification

When:

Lookups spiked on June 2, 2014 and again on June 9, 2014

Why:

After being banned from the NBA for life for making racist comments, L.A. Clippers owner Donald Sterling is now suing the NBA for $1 billion. His estranged wife, who owns half of the team and is negotiating its sale, has agreed to an indemnification that would protect the NBA from any financial liability  and would mean that Donald Sterling would in fact be suing himself should the lawsuit proceed.

Indemnification means "the action of protecting (someone) by promising to pay for the cost of possible future damage, loss, or injury." In this case, it means that the Clippers would pay if the NBA loses in court.

Indemnification comes from indemnify, which comes from the Latin word meaning "unharmed."